The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-30
ANSWERED..
ifronsinued from FIRST Page

trust nor for contracting debts Without
money in hand with which to make pay
ment Nor was there any accusing voice
in all the land On the contrary, they
were thanked and applauded Tor their UNI
lsolfsh and patriotic deeds.
3. Again, il is shown, in the biennial re-
port OF respondent lladden, that the sum
~ 80, 100 was advanced 70 the district by
him, the late II. A. Montgomery, and
James Ice, jr., and that they had agreed
10 look 10 the back taxes for its payment.
Respondents show tina, the government
las passed through many trying crises.
That which occurred at the threshold has
been mentioned. A practical necessity
Tor money aru.e before any was in the
hands OF the trustee. There was no stick
ling; no hesilancy; bat the capable,
hrainy men ut the helm put money in the
empty treasury, and kept life in the new
cNpeii mcnt at government until II could
realize on its taxes.
II was again in imminent peril whom
judgment WIS about being rendered on the
Rogers claim, In the supreme court, upon
which the dreaded and fatal mandanIus
could have issued. II the breach had been
once made. all the urfundcd debt would
have followed. II would have taken u
million OF dollars and Yeas OF time 10 have
rppaired the loss. There was no time TO
hesitate. The money was not in the treas
TRY 10 meet the imminent peril Respond
cnd Iladdcn, aided by many OF the patri-
otic citizens Of the district, procured u tenn
porary loan for the emergency, and the
danger was thus aycrtcd. II seems now
that he took chances that he did not then
dream Of But he does not regret IL.
Respondents could mention other trying
emergencies thus liJSlded for, but these
will he sufficient.
No worl Of criticism or ccnsurc came
from the principal ltho Executive and the
legislature 10 which, ~ agents aud dep
uiy rulers, they reported these trtlnsac-
lions. They did not set the authorities IN
motion against the authors Of these deeds
MS trust breakers and lnaleiactors.
s.-EypESDiTUBEs Is gNCEss Of THE An
. NutL LEyY-oyrHDRAFTs.
Respondents show that expenditures in
excess of the annual levy, and what are
,ienominaicd oycrdrattn. did no, originate
with the present administration Of the
Taxing District. In the biennial report OF
the Hon u. i. Porter, made December /,
1880 10 the Governor and General Assem-.
lily, il appcan that the expenditure for
streets, etc, were t25,GO3 ~ In excess al
che receipts from taxes levied for that pur.
pOec. II also appears that, in addition "a
This excess, $40, 900 had been advanced iol
streets and sewer accounts, which was du,
90 Mcssrs Porter Ovcrton and burke, and
for payment Of which they looked 10 lh'
uncOllcctcd taxes Of the district. TIL,
same report shows an excess of exPcndi
tnros over receipts for police department
al 81, l72 81, aud Zoe fire department o
$500 10.
other accounts Disclose q surplus TIT
delinquent taxes we're adequate 10 NEE
these expenditures in excess Of the ~
.ripis They Wcri carried forward, an,
subsequently met 10y surplus revenue iron
hack taxes, ~ from other surplus und uiI
appropriated revenue II the district.
Each. of the biennial reports Of respond
cnl Iladden shows the fact that for som,
81 the puposes the expenditures were IL
EXCESS OF receipts irom the annual lcvi@
,nndc for such purposca. On the uthcl
hand, there rppcara surplus To the crrdi
al other purposes 81 the said district
These oycrpaymcnte, ~ excessive eXpcnd
iturnS, Tor one Department OF purpose wcr
met ly the surplus 90 the credit Of tn
.Ahrr departments or usgs, Ur by collcr
tons frcm dnllaIuont 40 back taxes AM
.lalion-hovsc receipts.
There was never a time when the Tax
ing District was not able, in this manner
o. meet all IT, obligations.
These excessive disbursements and sui
plus accumula,ions wcp UNAVOIDABLE,
Onc fact alone IL sufficient In domunstrat
this. viz Tie impoeihliiy OF collcctiu
all taxes imposed during the year, f.
which they were lyNicd, and Of knowing !
advance accumicly Whit each puIpus
would require.
vi,--nACK TANIs now ruiizEp.
The biennial reports b. the LcgiAaiui
show that said district carries lfum "a
year To another ifum $4,000 to SljO.OI
81 back tnNcs.
The prccpl. from These back take
pddcd 10 collections from current take
iiaVc been found very nearly sufficient
oil times to meet the liabilities Of the III
tricl, aud They haze bc'n thus used, wit
uul question untl the spring ~ summer
1891, when the authority thus 10 use the
wus ist denied. In cas,s where .
Nipis from current taycs aud back tax
combined were too slow Ia meet pr,ssii
corurio wants, temporary loans or ~
ynnucs wen made, generally On the cred
oi tie uilici1l-, and their pledge that M,
loans o. advances should H. paid, ~ IN,
scOllcrtons could be made, irom u
cufrm levy, uT iro~ past, due or hal
taxes. Them was uithCI r.sk nor Wrui
in this CJurss.
Toe uil,,ial-, a. respondents ARE advise
hal power thus a. hcvp tie wheels ul gu
eminent going. ltWas ,iunc iUm the w
inception II the gOycrnment. Such "
thU pl1in duty II the Officers Of the al
iiicl. II thcy had not thus employed Il
lack taxes aud other surplus r,Ncnur,
would have been dead capital IN the ynul
81 he hank which hal ihc accounts
the district. To hoarl money paid by Il
people, Whn Il oould h. uad 10 bui
inofc STREETS, more bridges anil mon, pr'
go, would tc almost uimc against q
people, ~ Wcll a. a gfoss abuse 81 comm
f-nrC.
Respondents show, In this conncciio
TIA, The demands II commence, aud Il
nCNssitios Of the people for PAVED sirc,
and iof additional sewers wcW OF the me
urgent nnd imperative nature. Eve
edge was made 10 cut, and every dol
prcsscd 10 10 utmost, tO meet these gp
and essential want ~ extremely ursp
VEN they that the funds from al Law
invaluable sources had to bc supplement-
l,y private subscriptions from ahutting
oNncn. Tho available fund iuf paw
was pu, W iuf composition, and thusr
oui Of their private pockets In aid Of
corporate fund succeeded IN getting IA
ftr'c,s flint paved. On this cumpoiiu
Iiltn, aud under the stimulus Of ncrr-si
large amount Of valuable public "a,